Admissions

The admission of boys to Winchester at age thirteen is largely in the hands of Housemasters. When a boy is eight years old his name can be registered for entry into the School as a prospective member of a particular boarding House.

Community

Although the School is immediately outside the mediaeval city walls of Winchester near to Kingsgate, it has always been a part of the wider community and this is nowhere more evident than in its current geography.

Education

A Winchester education is unique. Our pupils enjoy good teaching and our teachers enjoy the liveliness of bright pupils. Success in examinations is one consequence of this, but we think it more important to encourage boys to love learning.

Libraries

Winchester's oldest records are housed in the purpose built room in which they were always intended to be housed. The thickness of the walls in this room maintains a very even temperature, which has helped to ensure over the centuries the survival of the

Pastoral Care

Everything we do at Winchester is an aspect of our pastoral care of the boys; classes, sports teams, clubs and societies. We are a fully resident community and we think of ourselves as a network of friends.

Pastoral Care

Everything we do at Winchester is an aspect of our pastoral care of the boys; classes, sports teams, clubs and societies. We are a fully resident community and we think of ourselves as a network of friends. We offer care with a light touch, so that boys have a sense of independence and freedom to take responsibility for themselves, but at the same time know that they are guided and looked after.

Our aim is to foster a network of good relationships; classroom teachers who observe changes in mood, behaviour, pattern of work; Housemasters who do the same; boys who look after each other. Every Housemaster has a team of Tutors who take an interest in particular groups of boys. The Chaplains and Div Dons underpin this network of support.

We are thus able to maintain an atmosphere in the School which is informal but respectful, intimate but open, relaxed but caring.

PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) is delivered principally through Div as an integrated part of a boy's learning, rather than through discrete lessons. It is also supported by specialist visiting speakers where particular expertise is needed, in addition to Housemasters, and tutors. Lectures are always followed up with an opportunity for discussion in subsequent Div hours.

Through the PSHE programme we are trying to help the boys prepare for life beyond the classroom and the complex and sometimes difficult choices they will face. With this in mind we hope to give them opportunities to: take responsibility, feel positive about themselves, to participate, to make real choices and decisions, meet and work with people, develop relationships, consider social and moral dilemmas, find information and prepare for change.

Over the five years boys will consider a variety of specific topics under the more general headings below:

Life skills

Sex and relationships

Health: physical and mental

Substance abuse: drugs, tobacco and alcohol

For each of the areas they are encouraged to consider a variety of responses to the issues. Many of the ideas raised in PSHE will also arise naturally in conversations with Housemasters, tutors and other subject teachers. The School's pastoral system underpins all that we do in PSHE.